Thomas Cook to close some Yorkshire stores (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Thomas Cook to close some Yorkshire stores

7:00am Thursday 14th March 2013 in Business By Chris Holland, Business Reporter

Travel firm Thomas Cook has revealed which stores in Yorkshire it proposes to close as part of cull of 195 travel agencies nationwide.

The company wants to close 30 Thomas Cook or Co-operative Travel stores in the Yorkshire area which is expected to lead to over 150 job losses.

The list includes Thomas Cook stores in Kirkgate, Bradford, and Batley.

Co-operative Travel stores on the closure list include Carlton Street Ilkley Station, Heckmondwike, Lowtown in Pudsey. Cliffe Court in Yeadon, Birkenshaw, Bradford, and Kirkgate, Bradford.

Struggling travel giant Thomas Cook, which is closing its call centre in Bradford city centre this month and axing local travel agencies, has promised to become more “high-tech and high-touch” as it rolled out its turnaround strategy with a bigger focus on city breaks.

The UK’s second largest holiday operator, which staved off collapse a year ago following a rescue deal with lenders, said its plans centred on providing customers with “trusted and personal” holiday experiences.

It hopes to achieve the strategy while cutting another £50 million of costs on top of the £350 million already identified. Last week, it announced it will axe 2,500 jobs or 16 per cent of its 15,500-strong UK workforce and close 195 high street travel agencies.